Come take classes with mushroom educator Dr. Gordon Walker through Cabrillo Extension: March 28th and 29th 2026

Full Weekend Class Combo

Debunking Mushroom Myths and Pop Culture Misinformation

Gordon will cover everything you've heard about mushrooms including if mushrooms can "talk", if mushrooms are from outer space, if Santa was inspired by a mushroom (Amanita muscaria), if we are at risk for a mushroom "zombie apocalypse", how to determine edible vs. toxic, whether or not they are safe to touch, if they can cure cancer, and more. Myths and misinformation about mushrooms is rampant in society. This class will teach you how to determine fact vs. fiction as Dr. Walker leads you through the most common myths about mushrooms. Examples from pop culture will be used to illustrate widespread misconceptions, which will be debunked with concrete evidence-based science.

3/28/2026 - 3/28/2026

Weekly - Sat

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Passport to Kingdom Fungi: An Overview of the Fungal Kingdom

This class is your in-depth introduction to all things fungi. Based on the book "Passport to Kingdom Fungi", Dr. Walker will take you on a tour of all the incredible forms of fungi, their varied life-styles, fascinating ecology, compelling biochemistry, and the hidden ways in which they influence our lives. You will learn how to recognize and identify mushrooms, but also gain an appreciation for non-mushroom fungi like molds, yeasts, and lichens. The class will also touch on how fungi are our allies in the fight against climate change and pollution, how they are used as workhorses for biotechnology, as well as the pivotal roles they play in fermentation and food production. The presentation will be followed by a nature walk on the Cabrillo campus where you will put your knowledge into practice and survey the local biodiversity of fungi. You will leave with an understanding of the basic biology, chemistry, and ecology of fungi worldwide. You will be able to recognize the basic archetypes of fungi, including different categories of mushrooms.

3/28/2026 - 3/28/2026

Weekly - Sat

01:00 PM - 05:00 PM

Mushroom Identification 101: How to Forage Safely in California

Foraging for mushrooms can be fraught with danger, if you don’t know what you are doing. However, if you learn the fundamentals of identification, understand the risks, and follow a basic set of practices, you can quickly learn how to safely forage for mushrooms. Empower yourself with education instead of falling victim to fearmongering and mycophobia. This course will cover the basic categories of mushrooms and how to recognize them based on their morphology (how they look). We will discuss how to differentiate edible vs. toxic species in general, as well as what habitats and seasons that they occur here in California. This class is intended for beginners, but is also useful for experienced mushroom hunters who want to expand the scope of edible species that they forage for around the state.

3/29/2026 - 3/29/2026

Weekly - Sun

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Mushroom Cooking: Theory, Practice & Taste Testing

Join Dr. Walker in the commercial kitchen at Cabrillo College to learn the theory of how to clean, prepare, and cook a variety of cultivated and wild mushrooms, and how to make sure your mushrooms are edible and safe to eat. After a brief walk (weather permitting), and learning the theory, you will put your knowledge into practice by cooking mushrooms yourself and preparing a dish to share with your classmates. You will be cooking with a selection of cultivated and possibly foraged  mushrooms collected by Dr. Walker. Come away from this class with solid fundamentals and methods for how to cook different types of mushrooms varieties.

3/29/2026 - 3/29/2026

Weekly - Sun

01:00 PM - 05:00 PM